Young T-Birds getting opportunities

Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, December 15, 2005

The Thunderbirds' 16-year-old rookies have plenty to learn in their hockey careers. But this week they are showing they already have mastered one of the great axioms of life.

Timing is everything.

Top scorers Ladislav Scurko and Roman Tomanek left yesterday to train with the Slovakian national team for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships Dec. 25-Jan. 5 in Kelowna, Kamloops and Vancouver, B.C. With their play on the recent Central Division road trip, head coach Rob Sumner will more easily incorporate his young players in the lineup in three important divisional games this weekend.

Nielsen made an impact, though late in losses, by scoring two goals in games against Calgary and Kootenay. It was a small consolation on a 2-4 road trip, but Sumner was pleased with the play of his youth.

"It was more that I was just getting results, but I was seeing more ice time and that gave me more confidence," Nielsen said. "I was getting opportunities, but now I'm going to be getting a lot more chances with people gone."

Of the five 16-year-old rookies -- including standout defenseman Thomas Hickey, who is not included when Sumner discusses rookies because his play is so advanced -- Nielsen is the only one not going to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Dec. 28-Jan. 4 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

He will see an increased role when the T-Birds return from their midseason holiday break.

STILL LOOKING: While his play would not indicate it, Richard is struggling to find his first Western Hockey League goal, a fact general manager Russ Farwell is quick to point out about the well-regarded center from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

"Richard is doing everything but score. He's really playing the way we expected him to play," said Farwell, adding that his play on the road trip showed growth. "He's a much better player than (two weeks ago) and we're hoping he can build on that."

WILSON RETURNS TO ROOTS: Retired Mariners catcher Dan Wilson will drop the ceremonial first puck tonight before the T-Birds take on the Tri-City Americans. Wilson, a three-time all-state selection as a goaltender at Barrington High School in Barrington, Ill., dropped the puck before the first Thunderbirds game at KeyArena Oct. 30, 1995 -- the first sporting event at the then-newly remodeled arena.

AN ASSIST TO THE INTERNET: The WHL instituted a new online program this season that provides a video feed of each WHL game. The webcasts have another benefit for the Thunderbirds, particularly when they played against teams like Central Division opponents.

"You're a little bit stranded against those teams from out of conference other than what you remember of some of the returning players," said Sumner, who regularly uses the webcasts as a scouting tool, particularly against Central and Eastern Division opponents.

"Now you can go online and catch up pretty quickly. Not all the quality is great, but it certainly does the trick."